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885 Naval Air Squadron

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm

885 Naval Air Squadron
Squadron badge
Active
  • 1941
  • 1941–1943
  • 1944–1945
Disbanded27 September 1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeSingle-seat fighter squadron
RoleFleetfighter squadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationSeeNaval air stations section for full list.
MottosCelerrime
(Latin for 'Very quickly')
AircraftSeeAircraft operated section for full list.
EngagementsWorld War II
Battle honours
  • Malta Convoys 1942
  • North Africa 1942
  • Sicily 1942
  • Normandy 1944
  • Okinawa 1945
Insignia
Squadron Badge DescriptionBlue, issuant from water barry engrailed of four white and blue flames proper therein a cat emergent affronty black (1945)[1]
Identification Markingssingle letters (Sea Hurricane)
7A+ (Sea Hurricane on HMSVictorious)
3A+ (Spitfire June 1944)
06A+ (Seafire on HMSFormidable)
2A+ (Seafire June 1944)
single letters (Hellcat)
K8A+ (Hellcat)
single letters (Corsair)
100+ (Corsair)
Military unit

885 Naval Air Squadron (885 NAS) was aNaval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy'sFleet Air Arm. First formed on 1 March 1941, the squadron served as a fighter squadron during theSecond World War. It operated in the Mediterranean in 1942–43, where it took part inOperation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion ofFrench North Africa, theAllied invasion of Sicily and theAllied invasion of Italy. In 1944 it took part in theAllied invasion of Normandy,spotting for Allied artillery bombardments and in 1945, was deployed as part of theBritish Pacific Fleet. It was disbanded for the last time on 27 September 1945.

Service

[edit]

885 Naval Air Squadron was first formed on 1 March 1941 atRNAS Dhekeila (HMSGrebe) in Egypt, the pre-warAlexandria airport, as a carrier fighter squadron, equipped with a mix ofBrewster Buffalo, an American fighter aircraft andGloster Gladiator, a British biplane fighter.[2] The squadron briefly served aboard the carrierEagle later that month, but was disbanded on 1 May 1941.[3]

The squadron was reformed atRNAS Yeovilton (HMSHeron), Somerset, equipped withHawker Sea Hurricane fighters, a navalised version of the Hawker Hurricane, on 1 December 1941.[3] In June 1942, 885 NAS embarked on the carrierVictorious, strengthening the carrier's air wing beforeVictorious formed part of the distant escort for the disastrousarctic convoyPQ 17 and the returnconvoy QP 13.[3][4]

The squadron re-embarked its six Hawker Sea Hurricanes aboardVictorious on 31 July 1942 before the carrier set out to take part in theMalta Convoy,Operation Pedestal.[5][6] In September 1942, the squadron was ordered toRNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail),Argyll and Bute, to re-equip with theSupermarine Seafire F Mk.IIc, a navalised Supermarine Spitfire, and then embarked onFormidable forOperation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion ofFrench North Africa in November that year.[6][7] The Squadron remained onFormidable as the carrier covered theAllied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 andOperation Avalanche, the Allied landings nearSalerno, Italy in September 1943.[3][8][9] The squadron returned to Britain in October 1943 and was disbanded on 15 November 1943.[3]

Taken after D-day in mid-1944. The black and white invasion stripes on the Seafire F Mk.III are still visible. Commander 'Tiny' Devonald, DFC, is sitting front centre. 13 pilots of the original 14 in 885 Squadron are in the photo following the loss of Lt. Anthony Bassett on 6 June 1944.

The squadron reformed again atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus), Hampshire, on 15 February 1944, again equipped with Supermarine Seafire. Following theAllied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, the squadron was employed as part ofRAF Second Tactical Air Force's air spotting pool,spotting for Allied artillery bombardments as well as escorting shipping in theChannel and carrying out fighter sweeps. In July,886 and897 Naval Air Squadrons, both also Seafire-equipped, were merged with 885 Naval Air Squadron. In November 1944, the squadron re-equipped withGrumman Hellcat, an American carrier-based fighter aircraft, in preparation for a transfer to theBritish Pacific Fleet.[6]

The squadron embarked on theescort carrierRuler in December 1944,[10] withRuler meeting up with the British Pacific fleet in April 1945.[11]Ruler was tasked with providing fighter and anti submarine protection for the Fleet Train replenishment ships supporting the fleet, with 885 Naval Air Squadron supplementing its eighteen Grumman Hellcats with fourGrumman Avenger torpedo bombers for anti-submarine duties.[11][12] On 14–15 May, the squadron provided air cover while the British Pacific Fleet replenished during theBattle of Okinawa, with the squadron's aircraft also being used as targets to train the fleet's fighter controllers and anti-aircraft gunners.[13]

After the end of Okinawa operations, the squadron disembarked atRNAS Ponum (HMSNabaron),Ponam Island offNew Guinea, providing continuation flying for replacement pilots for the fleet, and temporarily adding someVought Corsair, an American fighter aircraft, while ashore to improve the training it could offer.[14] From June, 885 Naval Air Squadron operated fromRuler to cover more refuelling operations duringoperations against Japan.[11][15] The squadron was disbanded atRAAF Station Schofields, nearSydney Australia on 27 September 1945.[10]

Aircraft operated

[edit]

The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[1]

Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB
  • Gloster Sea Gladiatorbiplanefighter aircraft (March - May 1941)
  • Brewster Buffalo fighter aircraft (March - May 1941)
  • Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB fighter aircraft (December 1941 - August 1942)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk Va fighter aircraft (September - October 1942)
  • Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb/hooked fighter aircraft (September - October 1942)
  • Supermarine Seafire Mk.IIc fighter aircraft (September 1942 - November 1943)
  • Supermarine Seafire Mk.Ib fighter aircraft (October 1942 - August 1943)
  • Supermarine Seafire L MK.III fighter aircraft (February - November 1944)
  • Supermarine Seafire F MK.III fighter aircraft (February - November 1944)
  • Supermarine Seafire L MK.IIc fighter aircraft (August - November 1944)
  • Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I fighter aircraft (October 1944 - May 1945)
  • Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. II fighter aircraft (October 1944 - September 1945)
  • Grumman Tarpon GR.Itorpedo bomber (May - September 1945)
  • Grumman Avenger Mk.II torpedo bomber (May - September 1945)
  • Vought Corsair Mk IIfighter-bomber (June - August 1945)
  • Vought Corsair Mk IV fighter-bomber (June - August 1945)

Battle honours

[edit]

Thebattle honours awarded to 885 Naval Air Squadron are:[16]

Naval air stations and aircraft carriers

[edit]

885 Naval Air Squadron operated from a number ofnaval air stations of the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force stations in the UK and overseas, and also a number ofRoyal Navy fleet carriers andescort carriers and other airbases overseas:[1]

Hawker Sea Hurricanes of 885 Naval Air Squadron on the deck of HMSVictorious during Operation Pedestal
A Supermarine Seafire Mk IIc of 885 Naval Air Squadron on the deck of HMSFormidable in the Mediterranean, December 1942
A Supermarine Seafire of 885 Naval Air Squadron about to "land out" on the deck of HMSFormidable at Gibraltar.

1941

1941 - 1943

  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMSHeron) (1 December 1941 – 6 February 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station St Merryn (HMSVulture) (6 February - 10 March 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton (HMSHeron) (10 - 14 March 1942)
  • Royal Air Force Sherburn-in-Elmet (14 - 22 March 1942)
  • Royal Air Force Hutton Cranswick (12 Gp) (22 March - 16 June 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMSLandrail) (16 - 23 June 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMSSparrowhawk) (23 - 29 June 1942)
  • HMS Victorious (29 June - 10 July 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Hatston (HMSSparrowhawk) (10 - 31 July 1942)
  • HMSVictorious (31 July - 22 August 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus) (22 August - 16 September 1942)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish (HMSLandrail) (16 September - 28 October 1942)
  • HMS Formidable (28 October - 7 December 1942)
  • RN Air Section Gibraltar (7 December 1942 – 5 January 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (5 - 15 January 1943)
  • La Senia Airfield (15 - 26 January 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (26 January - 2 February 1943)
  • La Senia Airfield (2 - 7 February 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (7 - 8 February 1943)
  • RN Air Section Gibraltar (8 February - 10 March 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (10 - 15 March 1943)
  • RN Air Section Tafaraoui (15 - 25 March 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (25 -26 March 1943)
  • RN Air Section Gibraltar (26 - 31 March 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (31 March - 9 April 1943)
  • RN Air Section Tafaraoui (9 - 14 April 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (14 - 16 April 1943)
  • RN Air Section Gibraltar (16 - 19 April 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (19 April 1 May 1943)
  • RN Air Section Tafaraoui (1 - 4 May 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (4 - 7 May 1943)
  • RN Air Section Gibraltar (7 - 28 May 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (28 May - 2 June 1943)
  • RN Air Section Tafaraoui (2 - 4 June 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (4 June 31 July 1943)
  • RN Air Section Ta Kali (31 July - 21 August 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (21 - 24 August 1943)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Dekheila (HMSGrebe) (24 - 28 August 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (28 - 30 August 1943)
  • RN Air Section Ta Kali (30 August - 5 September 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (5 - 12 September 1943)
  • RN Air Section Ta Kali (12 - September 1943)
  • Sidi Ahmed Airfield (15 - 16 September 1943)
  • RN Air Section Ta Kali (16 - 20 September 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (20 - 22 September 1943)
  • RN Air Section Gibraltar (22 September - 5 October 1943)
  • HMSFormidable (5 - 19 October 1943)
  • Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus) (19 October - 15 November 1943)
  • disbanded - (15 November 1943)

1944 - 1945

Commanding officers

[edit]

List ofcommanding officers of 885 Naval Air Squadron:[17]

1941

1941 - 1943

  • Lieutenant E.D.G. Lewin, RN from 1 December 1941
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) R.H.P. Carver,DSC, RN, from 2 February 1942
  • disbanded - 15 December 1943

1944 - 1945

  • Lieutenant Commander(A) S.L. Devonald, RN, from 15 February 1944
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) J.R. Routley,RNVR, from 7 November 1944
  • disbanded - 27 September 1945

Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[18]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^abcBallance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 256.
  2. ^Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 309, 390
  3. ^abcdeSturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 309
  4. ^Apps 1971, p. 83
  5. ^Shores, Cull & Malizia 1991, p. 451
  6. ^abcSturtivant & Ballance 1994, pp. 309–310
  7. ^Shores et al. 2016, pp. 48–49
  8. ^Roskill 1960, p. 128
  9. ^Shores et al. 2018, pp. 346–347
  10. ^abSturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 310
  11. ^abcHobbs 2013, p. 168
  12. ^Hobbs 2017, p. 159
  13. ^Hobbs 2017, pp. 189–190
  14. ^Hobbs 2017, p. 200
  15. ^Hobbs 2017, p. 259
  16. ^Wragg 2019, p. 182.
  17. ^Wragg 2019, p. 183.
  18. ^Wragg 2019, p. 257.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Apps, Michael (1971).Send Her Victorious. London: William Kimber.ISBN 0-7183-0102-1.
  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016).The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited.ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Hobbs, David (2013).British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development and Service Histories. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN 978-1-84832-138-0.
  • Hobbs, David (2017).The British Pacific Fleet: The Royal Navy's Most Powerful Strike Force. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN 978-1-5267-0283-8.
  • Roskill, S. W. (1960).The War at Sea 1939–1945: Volume III The Offensive Part I: 1st June 1943–31st May 1944. History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Military Series. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
  • Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1991).Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942. London: Grub Street.ISBN 0-948817-16-X.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried (2016).A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume Three: Tunisia and the End in Africa: November 1942 – May 1943. London: Grub Street.ISBN 978-1-910690-00-0.
  • Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell; Olynyk, Frank; Bock, Winfried; Thomas, Andy (2018).A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume Four: Sicily and Italy to the Fall of Rome: 14 May 1943 – 5 June 1944. London: Grub Street.ISBN 978-1-911621-10-2.
  • Sturtivant, Ray; Ballance, Theo (1994).The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd.ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
  • Wragg, David (2019).The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945.Cheltenham,Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press.ISBN 978-0-7509-9303-6.
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